| When traveling to Japan, it's important to understand | | | | Business cards in Japan carry a much greater |
| that customs regarding business card exchange are | | | | importance than in the West. Many professionals |
| far different from those at home. The Japanese | | | | think that simply adding a Japanese content sticker |
| place importance on both the process of exchanging | | | | or decal to the back of their pre-printed existing |
| business cards, and the quality of the cards | | | | English cards will do the job overseas. Others think |
| themselves. As the old saying goes, you never get a | | | | that printing their own cards at home via perforated |
| second chance to make a first impression. Thus, it's | | | | tear-off card stock will also be "good enough" in |
| crucial to know many of the basic rules of translation | | | | Japan. Again, these are big mistakes because "good |
| and printing in order to make your first impression in | | | | enough" is not the right objective for the Japanese |
| Japan a positive one. | | | | audience. |
| TIP: Have Your Business Card Professionally | | | | Due to the limited space and content on a business |
| Translated | | | | card, some think they can do this themselves. |
| Probably the most obvious item that many | | | | However, balancing the art of Asian typesetting is |
| Westerners overlook when creating cards for Japan, | | | | even more difficult at limited point sizes and a |
| is presenting their clients with a clean, professionally | | | | reduced amount of real estate. Font weights and |
| translated business card into Japanese. Although | | | | content should flow on the Japanese side exactly the |
| virtually all Japanese clients will be able to read your | | | | same way as the English. This is why it's important to |
| English business card, having your card translated into | | | | use professional typesetters who specialize in |
| Japanese serves a dual purpose: First, it first shows | | | | Japanese fonts in order to preserve your company |
| your client that you've taken the extra step to | | | | card's style and branding for your Japanese audience. |
| observe and respect their culture. Second, it also | | | | TIP: Have Your Business Card Professionally Printed |
| allows you to provide phonetic assistance in Japanese | | | | Take the time to have dual-sided English and |
| for content on your card such as difficult surnames | | | | Japanese bilingual business cards created for your |
| or obscure city names that are not easily read in | | | | next visit to Japan. In this modern age of digital |
| English by a Japanese native speaker. | | | | printing, this is much easier than it used to be. There |
| TIP: Always Use A Professional Native-Language | | | | are agencies online that can also create electronic |
| Speaking Translator | | | | press-ready PDF files for you to print at your local |
| Many people think they can have someone "that | | | | print shop. The days of requiring Japanese fonts on |
| knows a little Japanese" perform a translation of their | | | | the press are long gone. Select a card stock that |
| business card. Others may even think they can use | | | | works for you and is durable to show both quality |
| translation software like Babelfish to translate their | | | | and longevity. This is not the time to try to capitalize |
| card's information. Both of these ideas could lead to | | | | on those "free" online business card offers that often |
| disastrous results. When having a card translated, one | | | | use flimsy card stock or subsidize the printing by |
| must always use a native-language speaking | | | | placing an ad on the back. |
| professional translator. Always. This ensures that your | | | | If you follow these tips above, you will already be |
| message in conveyed properly, and will start off your | | | | well on your way to a successful meeting in Japan, |
| meeting on the right foot. | | | | which starts with perfect Japanese business cards. |
| TIP: Have Your Business Card Professionally Typeset | | | | |